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# Hasbro accused of deploying "union avoidance tactics" by organising Wizards of the Coast workers
- URL: https://www.verticalslice.news/hasbro-accused-of-deploying-union-avoidance-tactics-by-organising-wizards-of-the-coast-workers/
- Published: 2026-10-29T15:22:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-29T15:30:38.000Z
- Description: "We are more than prepared to stand together and win our union election."
- Author: Chris Kerr
- Tags: News, Labour

A cohort of Wizards of the Coast employees seeking to unionise claim parent company Hasbro is leveraging "union avoidance tactics" to isolate and dissuade Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X workers who are preparing to vote in a union election.

The news comes less than a month after Wizards of the Coast workers behind Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Duel Masters, and D&D Beyond [signalled their intent to unionise](https://www.verticalslice.news/scared-workers-are-neither-happy-nor-productive-d-d-and-magic-the-gathering-staff-seek-to-unionize/) by joining their peers under the [United Wizards of the Coast-CWA](https://unitedwizardsofthecoast.com/about?ref=verticalslice.news) (UWOTC-CWA) banner.

The group asked Hasbro to voluntarily recognise the new bargaining units by October 13\. [Hasbro declined](https://www.verticalslice.news/wizards-of-the-coast-refuses-to-voluntarily-recognise-unionising-d-d-and-magic-the-gathering-workers-2/). 

Now, speaking to Vertical Slice over email, the UWOTC-CWA organising committee for D&D and Studio X workers revealed Hasbro has categorically stated it is "not neutral" on the subject of unionisation. Vertical Slice has viewed a copy of the email and confirmed it contains that language.

"In an email sent to all Wizardsemployees, Wizards of the Coast leadership stated that they are 'not neutral' on the question of unionization," said the committee. "They do not believe that unionization is the best way to address our needs as workers. A supermajority of workers from both *Dungeons & Dragons* and Studio X strongly disagree."

For those attempting to unionise in pursuit of better wages, working conditions, generative AI protections, and more, the path forward is clear. Both units have secured an NLRB election date on November 10, 2026\. Mail-in ballots will be collected until December 4, at which point the votes will be counted. 

UWOTC-CWA is confident the outcome will be a vote for unionisation. 

"A supermajority on both teams and nearly 50,000 fans from around the world via our [ActionNetwork petition](https://actionnetwork.org/forms/uwotcpetition/?ref=verticalslice.news) believe in the power of this union to change Wizards of the Coast and the gaming industry for the better. We are more than prepared to stand together and win our union election," said the committee. 

That's despite, as previously mentioned, Wizards and Hasbro allegedly attempting to discourage unionisation within its ranks. 

"In the few short weeks since we’ve sent our petition to management, Wizards leadership has already employed several union avoidance tactics, like accusing the union of disrupting work and ostracising union leaders in the workplace," said the committee.

"They couch their sentiments in between language like 'We’ve been hearing…' or 'Some employees say they feel…' but their intent is clear: to paint us, the union, as the problem. But our union vision remains a positive one: we’re fighting for protections against AI, creative freedom off the clock, the prevention of unnecessary RTO policies, and more. We're not running a harassment campaign; we're getting people excited for better working conditions–the ones we know we both deserve and can win."

In fact, UWOTC-CWA has claimed Wizards and Hasbro are responsible for causing disruption, and said the company has sent a "slew of calendar invites to optional meetings during office hours' to push "union misinformation," sidetracking employees and pulling them away from their work.

As luck would have it, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks this week [shared his views on unionisation](https://www.verticalslice.news/responding-to-union-concerns-hasbro-ceo-claims-the-greatest-form-of-job-protection-is-business-expansion/) during an on-stage interview with Boston radio WBUR. When pressed as to whether or not Hasbro is anti-union, he said the company supports a person's "right to unionise" but claimed "the greatest form of job protection any team can have is to expand the business they're working on."

Vertical Slice has reached out to Hasbro for comment.